Future plans: Attend South Dakota School of Mines and major in mechanical engineering and play football.

Best athletic memory: Catching the winning touchdown against Ipswich in overtime last fall.

Josh Clemens has his eye on the track and field leader board at Northwestern High School. Before spring is over, he hopes to change the first name and time of the school's open 800-meter run record.

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The record is currently held by his uncle Todd Clemens at 2 minutes, 3.96 seconds. In the only meet of the season so far for the Wildcats, senior Josh Clemens ran a 2:10.96. Josh's personal best 800-meter time was a 2:06 split in a relay.

I'm not satisfied with my time in the 800 last week, said Josh, who turned 18 yesterday. I think I can beat my uncle's time. That's my main goal. He said that if anyone is going to beat the record he wants it to be me.

At the Rob Luecke Invitational last week in Groton, Clemens won the 800-meter run, finished second in the 400-meter dash (:53.67) to a Class A runner, and ran the anchor leg on the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays. The longer relay finished second at the Groton meet and is ranked second among Class B schools across the state this week.

Clemens' time in the 800-run places him third among all Class B times and his 400-dash ranks sixth overall.

For his efforts Clemens has been named the American News Athlete of the Week.

Josh is a competitor, said Northwestern boys' track coach Wade Rozell. He gives maximum effort on the track. He leads by example. He is a very good student and a very likeable young man.

At the State B meet last season, Clemens qualified in the 800-meter run and the 3,200-meter relay.

The 800 is my favorite running event, Clemens said. It's not too long but not too short. It makes you work. It's harder than the 400. I've never run the mile or two mile but the 800 is the hardest race I run.

In addition to chasing the school record in the 800 Clemens hopes to qualify for state in the open 400 and 800 and two relays.

Although Clemens is involved in several sports, he does not have a favorite one. A 6-foot-3 wide receiver and safety, he plans to play football in college at South Dakota School of Mines.

I enjoy all of them. I'm built for running. I'm skinny and athletic. I've always been a good runner, he said.

The oldest of five children, Clemens comes from a family of athletes. His father Bill played sports at Northwestern and his mother Denise (Ruhland) was a basketball player at Northern State.

They were both in sports, said Josh. They're both great. They teach me and coach me. They're always there for me when I need them.